Smoke box of locomotives



July 16, 1929. ca. 'r. FOSTER SMOKE BOX 0F LOCOMOTIVES Original Filed April 27, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 16, 1929. FQSTER I 1.721312 SMOKE 50}: 0F LOCOMOTIVES Original Filed April 2'7, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIEJIE.

I/VI/E/V 70/2 w/T/vassss Patented July 16, 1929.

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GUY T. FOSTER, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 LOCOMOTIVE ECONOMIZER CORPORA- TION, OF NEVJ' YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE' SMOKE BOX OF LOCOMOTIVES. I

Original application filed April 27, 1925, Serial no. 26,167. Divided and this application 'fi aaui 9, i

My invention relates to improvements in smokebox of locomotive. This application constitutes a division of an application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 26,167, filed by me April 27, 1925, and allowed January 16, 1926.

. In the accompanying drawings Fig. I shows, in horizontal section, the forward end of a locomotive boiler and the smoke box of the locomotive in which embodiment of my present invention is found. Figs. II and III are views to larger scale, and show in longitudinal and in transversesectionthe detail in .which my present invention centers.

The smoke-box of the locomotive boiler is indicated by the numeral 1, the boiler itself by 2. The boiler is here shown to be of usual .type, penetrated by tubes 10 for the passage of the hot products of combustion. These tubes extend from the fire-box in the rear (not shown) to the smoke-box 1 at the front. A smoke-stack 5 leads from the smoke-box. A smoke-stack extension 4 and the steam exhaust 3 direct and impel the stream of the products of combustion through the smokestack. l

A certain partitioning within the smoke.

box causes the stream of the products of combustion advancmg from the boiler flues to divide on a vertical and mediallme, and to flow forward in two branches, spread apart sorption from the flowing stream of hot gases and at the same time to present relatively little obstruction to the flow. That feed-water heater constitutes the subject matter of the application of which this is a division, re ferred to above. Suflice it here to say that the heater here shown includes three units, consisting each of a header and circulation pipes. The three headers are designated 6, 6, and 16, and the three sets of circulation pipes 7,

Serial No. 121,326. 1

and 17. It will be perceived that the header 16-is approximately triangular in shape and constitutes a dividing element,'causing the stream of the products of combustion which advances through the boiler tubes to separate I i smoke-box and on either side, and the circulation pipes 7 which extend from them extend rearwardly mto the forward flowing branches of the divided stream. The connections for the circulation of water through these heater units and from them to the boiler constitute no part of my present invention. They'are described in the companion application to which allusion has been made.

Two vertically standing partition plates 9, spaced apart, extend, one on either side of the central vertical plane of the boiler, their rear edges engage the header 16 of the rearwardly arranged heater, unit, and their forward edges are spaced at an intervalto rearward of the headers-.6 of the two forwardly ar ranged heater units. They rise from the bo t- I tom of the smoke-boxto a horizontally arranged partiti'on' plate 8. The plate 8 extends fromside to side, and along its opposite edges is united to the side walls ofthe smoke-box. curtain wall 30 is introduced, defining in the .upper part of the structure a space in front of the boiler proper, and, to rearward of the smoke-box. The aforesaid plate 8 extends forwardly fromthe curtain wall 30 toward the front end of the smoke-box, as far as In the exemplificamay be found desirable. tion given, the plate 8 extends to the headers 6 of the forwardly placed heater units. It

In this particular installation a will be perceived that these partitions 8 and ,9, together with the headers of theheater units, define the course of the stream of hot gases which emerges from the boiler flues 10,

and cause the stream to flow in the course already indicated.

The plates 9, at the forwardedges, are ex tensible and retractible, and to. that end are provided with extensions 19. Union of extensions'19 with plates 9 themselves .may

conveniently be effected by bolts 20 and as a provision for the extensibility defined, the

bolt-holes in one or both parts may be elon gated into slots 21. This adjustable feature permits minute variation of the effective length of the partition walls 9, and by making adaptation here to the particular condition of service, the best conditions of draft may be established and in substantially'all cases the efficiency of the locomotive may appreciably be increased.

A screen 22 is provided in the passageway, to effect the breaking up of large cindersy This screen is arranged in best position across the passageway between plates 9, and perpendicularly to the line of flow, or substantially so. In I this screen 22 isshown to be immediately carried by the extensions 19 ofthe side plates. A more elaborate and more eflicacious mounting of the screen is shown in Figs. II and Ill. The

ment is clearly shown in Fig. Ill. Such mounting of the screen with provision for swing within a narrow range, limited by striking against flanges of the rigid frame, has functional value. WVhen the locomotive isin operation the pulsations due to the intermittent escape of steam through nozzle 3 will efiect a vibration of the screen in its mounting. To the extent that the screen may named.

these conditions is repeatedly knocked by striking against the flanges 35, and this knocking tends to loosen cinders and soot,

which, settling upon it, might cake and clog it. An additional feature of advantage of the construction particularly shown in Figs. II and III, is that the shaft 33 may be made readily removable, so the screen maybe taken out and replaced without difficulty, givingaccess to the space beyond for purposes incident to service.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a locomotive structure, a smoke-box and a smoke-stack opening from the smokebox, a passageway formed withinthe smokebox and leading to the smoke-staclga stop stationary in the passageway, and a screen extending transversely across the passageway and freely movable to and from abutment upon said stop.

2. In a locomotive structure, a ire-tube boiler, a smoke-box into which the boiler tubes open, and a smoke-stack opening from the smoke-box, a passageway formed within the smoke-.boxand leading to the smoke-stack, a frame with inturned flanges rigidly mounted on the passageway walls and a framed screen pivotally mounted in the passageway and freely movable through a limited range between opposite positions of abutment upon the flanges of the frame first .l'n testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GUY T. FOSTER. 

